Indian Embassy in US condoles "unfortunate accident" at Baltimore bridge
President Biden takes note of prompt action by ship's crew
New York (PTI): The Indian Embassy in the US has condoled the "unfortunate accident" in Baltimore where a cargo ship manned by a 22-member Indian crew, struck and demolished a key bridge, an accident that may have killed six people and brought one of the most important ports in the northeast US to a grinding halt.
Several vehicles were crossing Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is more than 2.6 km-long when it collapsed after the container ship collided with one of its supports Tuesday early morning. Officials said the Singapore-flagged ship 'Dali' suffered a "power issue" and issued a distress call moments before the crash.
US President Joe Biden, in remarks at the White House, said the alert sent by the ship's crew before the collision saved lives.
"Personnel on board the ship were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of their vessel As a result, local authorities were able to close the bridge to traffic before the bridge was struck, which undoubtedly saved lives," Biden said.
"Our heartfelt condolences to all affected by the unfortunate accident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore," the Indian Embassy in the US said in a post on X.
It said that the Embassy has created a dedicated hotline for any Indian citizens who may be affected or require assistance due to the tragedy. The Embassy is ascertaining details regarding the vessel's crew.
Ship management company Synergy Marine Group said in a statement that the crew on Dali is "All Indian, 22 in total."
"All crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," it said.
"Owners and managers of the Singapore-flagged container ship "Dali" report that the vessel collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore whilst under pilotage with two pilots onboard, at approximately 01:30 local time on 26th March," the Synergy Group said in a statement.
It further said that all crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution.
Some of the individuals missing after the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge are Mexican nationals, according to Rafael Laveaga, Chief of the Consular Section of Mexico's Embassy in Washington.
Two of the construction workers missing since the bridge collapse were from Guatemala, the country's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Construction crews were working on the bridge to repair potholes when the collision occurred. Two persons were rescued from the water, while six construction workers remained missing.
After an entire day of search and rescue operations, the US Coast Guard said it was suspending operations since it was unlikely the remaining workers would be found alive.
"Based on the length of time that has gone in this search, the extensive search efforts that we've put into it, the water temperature, that at this point we do not believe we are going to find any of these individuals still alive," Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard suspended its active search and rescue efforts on Tuesday evening at 7:30 local time.
Authorities said that a mayday call by the vessel's crew enabled officials to stop vehicular traffic from coming onto the bridge, "undoubtedly" saving many more lives.
President Biden said he was sending all the federal resources needed to respond to the emergency. We're going to rebuild that port together," he said.
He stressed that "everything so far indicates" that this was a terrible accident.
"At this time, we have no other indication -- no other reason to believe there was any intentional act here," Biden said.
The vessel is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd and was outbound from Baltimore to Colombo and has a capacity of 10,000 TEU, with onboard units totalling 4,679 TEU. The vessel's tons deadweight is 116,851 DWT.
Biden said the Port of Baltimore is one of the nation's largest shipping hubs and it handled a record amount of cargo last year.
"It's also the top port in America for both imports and exports of automobiles and light trucks," Biden said, adding that around 850,000 vehicles go through that port every single year and 15,000 jobs depend on that port.
"And we're going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers. The bridge is also critical to -- for travel, not just for Baltimore but for the Northeast Corridor," the president said.
Over 30,000 vehicles cross the Francis Scott Key Bridge daily, one of the most important elements for the economy in the Northeast and the quality of life, he said.
"I've directed my team to move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible," Biden said.
The bridge crosses over the Patapsco River and its construction was completed in 1977. The bridge has a traffic volume of 11.3 million vehicles. It is named after Francis Scott Key, the author of the US national anthem Star Spangled Banner.'
United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek Barron said that there was no evidence to suggest that the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has any ties to terrorism.
Earlier in the day, Biden spoke with federal, state, and local officials as part of the ongoing response to the collapse of the bridge.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also told reporters that the crew of the cargo ship alerted authorities about a "power issue" before the vessel collided with the bridge and this mayday call enabled workers to stop more vehicular traffic from coming onto the bridge.
"We can confirm that the crew notified authorities of a power issue," Moore said.
Moore was asked if the crew on the ship alerted authorities about losing propulsion and was in trouble.
"Yes", Moore said when asked if the crew had lost power on the ship.
"We do know that the investigation is currently going on. But I have to say I'm thankful for the folks who, once the warning came up and once notification came up that there was a mayday, who literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge. These people are heroes, they saved lives last night," he said.
"We are thankful that between the mayday and the collapse that we had officials who were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge," he said.
Moore added that the preliminary investigation "points to an accident. We haven't seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack."
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) personnel will assist in the aftermath of the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The team includes "engineering, construction, contracting and operations specialists" and will work with local, state, and federal agencies to remove the bridge and clear the federal shipping channel, a USACE news release said.
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Deep societal faultlines persist despite 75 years of independence: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
